Washing-machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. L. WILLIAMS.

Washing Machine.

Patented Aug.'24, 1880.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. L. WILLIAMS. Washing Machine.

Patented Aug. 24,1880.

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NVPETER5 PHOTO LITHOGRAPHER WASH NGTON D C (No Model.)

Atteszii UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. WILLIAMS, OF EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,515, dated August24., 1880.

Application filed March 16, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. WILLIAMS, of Edwardsville, Illinois, havemade a new and useful Improvement in Washing Machines, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, in which-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a washingmachine having the improvement;Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section taken through the bed upon whichthe clothes are supported while being washed, the section being takennear the side of the bed and on the line a acof Fig. 7, and the viewshowing also the feeding device Fig. 3, a similar section, but showingthe parts of the feeding device as when in operation Fig. 4, aperspective view of the gear used in connecting the main shaft and thefeeding device, the view being at the opposite side to that shown inFigs. 2, 3; Fig. 5, a perspective view of the cog used upon the ends ofthe rollers of the .bed Fig. 6, a perspective view, showing a portion ofthe chain used in the feeding device; and Fig. 7, a plan, showing theend of one of the bed-rollers having attached the cog shown in Fig. 5.It also shows the main shaft and the gear and roller thereon. The lastsix views are upon alarger scale than that of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is avertical longitudinal section taken through the bed, and Fig. 9 asection taken on the line w 00 of Fig. 8.

The same letters denote the same parts.

The present invention is an improvement in washing-machines having a bedor support for the clothes being washed, consisting of a series ofrollers; and it has relation, mainly, to the improved means employed inoperating the rollers and in feeding the clothes through the machine.

In the drawings, A represents the tub, which is of the customary shape.B B B represent the series of rollers constituting the bed upon whichthe clothes rest. An upper roller, suspended from the frame 0 andarranged to oscillate above the bed B B B, is used to effect the washingof the clothes, but it is not shown, as its construction and operationare well understood, and it is not immediately connected with thepresent improvement.

(No model.)

The rollers B B have journals 1), and are journaled in a frame, B andthey each have rigidly attached a cog, D, of the form shown in Figs. 5,7that is, the cog is of uniform diameter with the roller B, and it has aseries of sockets, (Z d, and it fills out the space between the end I)of the roller and the frame B By reason of this arrangement there isnowhere any point or projection above the level of the bed B B B uponwhich the clothes might catch and be torn, or any opening for them tofall into, for the cogs are substantially extensions of the rollers, andthe latter are as small in diameter and set as closely together as ispracticable.

E represents the chain used in operating the rollers B B. It is carriedaround the sprocketwheels F G, and it engages with the cogs D D, beingprovided with the cogs e e, which engage in the sockets d d of the cogs,and the chain being upheld against the cogs D D by means of the supportH, which is a piece attached to the side piece, b and which on its upperside is shaped to conform to the curvature of the bed B B B, and whichserves to keep the chain E in engagement with all the cogs D D D D.

The support H maybe grooved upon its upper edge, as seen in Fig. 9, tohold the chain more securely.

The wheel F is journaled in the frame B at f, and the wheel G isjournaled at g in a forked arm, I, that is pivoted at i to the frame BThe wheel G is also rigidly connected with a gear, J, the two, inpractice, being a single casting.

To set the feeding mechanism in operation the arm I, by means of the armI and the lever K, is moved so as to change the parts from the positionshown in Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3, in so doing bringing the gear J intoengagement with a gear, L, which is fastened to the main shaft M of themachine. The rotation of the main shaft then, through the gears L J andchain E, causes the rollers B B B to rotate on their hearings in theframe 8, and thereby to feed the clothes along the bed.

The feeding is arrested by throwing the lever K back into the positionshown in the full lines in Fig. 2, whereupon a roller, N, attached to anarm, n, that is pivoted at n and pressed by a spring, n acts to draw thechain down and to detach the gears J L. To facilitate the action of theroller N the chain is made to pass over a support, 11

The main shaft is jonrnaled in the tub, and is provided with a gear, 0,which engages with a gear, P. From the latter a connecting-rod, Q, leadsto the arm R of the frame, which carries the upper oscillating roller,above referred to.

S represents a loose roller upon the main shaft. The end of the rolleris shown in Fig. 7, and its position is indicated by the dotted lines inFigs. 2, 3. The parts are arranged so as to separate the roller S fromthe first roller, B, of the bed B B B, and between the rollers S B aslat, T, is arranged. The slat extends from one side piece, D of theframe B to the opposite upright, (not shown,) serving as a brace to keepthe side pieces, when swollen by the water, from cramping the rollers BB B, as well as to fill the space between the rollers S B and preventthe clothes from falling between these rollers, for the rollers S B, byreason of the construction of the adjoining mechanism, cannot bearranged close together, and the roller S cannot be dispensed with andthe slat T widened to take its place without interfering with the properaction of the feeding mechanism. As it is, the. roller S covers the mainshaft, and at the same time acts to move along the clothes and preventthem from heaping up whenever they are being fed toward the operator. Bymeans, also, of the positive connection of the chain E with the rollersB B B the feeding is under perfect control and proceeds evenly at allparts of the bed.

The roller S is made loose upon the main shaft to avoid feeding when therollers B B B are not in motion. If it were fast upon the shaft it wouldact to keep the clothes in motion, even when the feeding mechanism wasnot in operation, but being loose it serves merely as a support for theclothes as the latter are being moved back and forth by means of therollers B B B.

I claim- 1. The combination of the frame B rollers B B, cogs I) D, chainE. wheels F G, arm I, and gears J L, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the chain E, wheel G, arm I, gears J L, arm I, andlever K, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the cogs D D 1), chain E, side pieces, 1) andsupport H, substantially as described, and for the purpose of upholdingsaid chain against said cogs.

4. The combination of the gears J L, wheels F G, arm I, belt E, androller N, substantially as described.

GEO. L. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

CHAS. I). MoonY, JAMES T. COOPER.

